Stable-Carbon Isotope Time Series from Tropical Tree Rings Indicate a Precipitation Signal
Stable-Carbon Isotope Time Series from Tropical Tree Rings Indicate a Precipitation Signal
Although studies on stable-carbon isotopes in trees from temperate zones provide abundant paleoclimatic data, tropical trees are still understudied in this context. Therefore this study examined the variability of intra- and inter-annual stable-carbon isotopic pattern in several tree species from va...
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Personal Name(s): | Fichtler, Esther (Corresponding Author) |
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Helle, Gerhard / Worbes, Martin | |
Contributing Institute: |
Agrosphäre; IBG-3 |
Published in: | Tree-ring research, 66 (2010) 1, S. 35 - 49 |
Imprint: |
Tucson, Ariz.
Tree-Ring Society with the cooperation of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, the University of Arizona
2010
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DOI: |
10.3959/2008-20.1 |
Document Type: |
Journal Article |
Research Program: |
Terrestrial Systems: From Observation to Prediction Modelling and Monitoring Terrestrial Systems: Methods and Technologies |
Publikationsportal JuSER |
Although studies on stable-carbon isotopes in trees from temperate zones provide abundant paleoclimatic data, tropical trees are still understudied in this context. Therefore this study examined the variability of intra- and inter-annual stable-carbon isotopic pattern in several tree species from various tropical climates. The δ13C values of samples of 12 broadleaved trees (seven species) from various paleotropical and neotropical sites along a climatic moisture gradient were investigated. The inter-annual variability between species and sites was studied. Further the relationship between δ13C and precipitation time series was analyzed. Results show that tropical tree species show a similar variability in carbon isotopic composition as temperate tree species. Significant correlations between annual precipitation and tree-ring δ13C time series were negative. Successful crossdating of a tree-ring δ13C time series highlights the potential of carbon isotope measurements for tropical tree-ring analytical studies. Tropical broadleaved trees are able to capture a carbon isotopic signal in their annual rings even under everwet conditions and show good potential for paleoclimatic research. |